A Place to Fall: Falling Series 1 (skinny!Steve x Bucky Barnes College AU)

Forty-Nine

"So, Steven," Grandpa Buchanan asked, plopping another helping of yams onto his own plate, "You go to school with James?"

Swallowing down his mouthful a bit prematurely, Steve nodded and cleared his throat, "Yes, sir."

Grandpa Buchanan nodded and smiled, shoveling food into his mouth. Before all the food in his mouth was chewed, Grandpa Buchanan teased, "You gonna be a big-shot architect too?"

Flitting his gaze to Bucky sitting beside him, Steve fondly exchanged a look with Bucky before telling Grandpa Buchanan, "No, sir. I don't have the grades needed to become an architect."

"Whatever," Bucky scoffed. Playfully, Bucky rolled his eyes at Steve's comment.

"You should be proud of your grandson," Steve continued, completely ignoring Bucky's comment. "Not very many people are as talented, nor as passionate as Bucky."

"Oh, believe me," Uncle Greg conceded, "We're all very proud of Jimmy."

"Well, I'm gonna have a big head by dessert," Bucky mocked, brushing off the compliments.

"From what Bucky's told us, you're equally talented, if not more so," George, Bucky's dad, stated. Gaining the attention of the adult's table that immediately turned to Steve.

With his cheeks tinting pink, Steve said, "I don't know about that, sir."

"Don't believe that," Bucky scoffed. From underneath the table, Bucky tenderly placed his hand on Steve's leg, and soothingly rubbed his hand along Steve's thigh. Bucky continued talking Steve up, "He's one of the most talented artists that I've ever seen. And I've only see his doodles."

Steve's chest filled with joy as he tried to play down Bucky's compliments, "I'm really not that --"

"Sure you are," Bucky countered with a smile. Even giving Steve a wink. Proudly, Bucky bragged to the rest of the table, "He's just being humble now." Bucky gave Steve's thigh a comforting squeeze, "But you should see his sketches. They're really fantastic."

At the way that Bucky was jovially building Steve up, Steve couldn't do anything but sit there red-faced. Steve placed his hand on top of Bucky's and affectionately laced their fingers together. No matter how awkward that day could've been, Steve knew that as long as he had Bucky beside him, it'd be worth it.

"So," Mandy's douche bag boyfriend, Mark, prompted. Once he had Steve and Bucky's attention, he arrogantly mocked, "You two are just like, the perfect --" Mark leaned forward and feigned confusion "-- what the fuck even are you? Are you a... couple?"

Although Steve didn't care for the cocky son-of-a-bitch, he couldn't help but also want to know what he and Bucky were. Were they a couple? Obviously he and Bucky weren't friends. Or at least, not just friends. They were clearly more, right?

"They're..." Bucky's mom, Winifred, started, but stopped as she too didn't know what they were. Steve appreciated her effort all the same though and gave her a small grateful smile.

"I don't see why it's any concern to you," Bucky honestly replied to Mark.

"I'm just trying to figure out how much effort I should put into getting to know Steve because he seems like a decent guy --" even Steve rolled his eyes at that "-- but I don't want to get to know him too much if it's just going to end like every other... fling."

Fling. Surely, that wasn't what this was, right? No, that didn't encapsulate everything that they were. They seemed to be constantly with each other. Whether in person or through texting. The longest they seemed to go without contact was when they were in class. Or studying. Or when Bucky was tutoring. But that shouldn't have played into how much they cared about one another.

Steve didn't want to jinx anything, but he could see himself really falling for Bucky. Once in a lifetime, hit it out of the ballpark, fairy tale type of thing. Something serious and concrete. That's what Steve thought they were heading towards.

What did Bucky think? Steve didn't know. They hadn't discussed it yet. Steve didn't want to scare Bucky off. Didn't want to come off too strong.

Sure, maybe Steve should've asked for something. But he hadn't. And although he wasn't going to take anything that Mark said too seriously, Steve still found himself getting hung up on that single, simple word: fling.

Almost as though Bucky could read his mind, Bucky gave Steve's hand a comforting squeeze. Of course, it wasn't enough to completely erase all Steve's curious thoughts, but it was enough to give Steve hope.

"Well, I think it's safe to say that Steve's going to be around for a while," Bucky replied. Expectantly looking over at Steve. Subtly, Steve nodded, causing Bucky to grin. Almost as though Bucky wasn't anticipating Steve to agree.

All Steve could do was melt, and believe that maybe Bucky felt as strongly as he did.